another family murdered - The Gee Family

[SaraSidle]

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_14b710c8-a70b-11de-9beb-001cc4c03286.html

[One2Snoop]

Wow! I guess police have no idea if this was a stranger or extended family that did it. How scary.

[samanthajane13]

5 family members found slain in central Illinois
By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press Writer Christopher Wills, Associated Press Writer – 8 mins ago

LINCOLN, Ill. – A couple and three children were found slain in their central Illinois home in what a sheriff described Tuesday as a "brutal homicide," and detectives were trying to identify possible suspects.

Authorities discovered the bodies late Monday afternoon after responding to a 911 call about possible shots fired at the address, Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols said at a news conference.

A 3-year-old girl survived the attack and was taken to a hospital in Peoria, he said.

Nichols declined to say why his office didn't release information about the slayings until Tuesday morning. He said detectives were following leads to try to identify possible suspects, but that authorities could only say that the suspect was considered "armed and dangerous."

Nichols warned area residents to lock their doors at night as a precaution.

"We are determined to identify and arrest those responsible," he said.

The slayings, which Nichols described as a "brutal homicide against an entire family," occurred at the family's ranch-style home in Beason, a farming community about 140 miles southwest of Chicago.

Nichols would not provide details about the crime scene or the suspected cause of death, but said an autopsy was scheduled for later Tuesday.

Nichols identified the victims and gave approximate ages: Raymond "Rick" Gee, 46; Ruth Gee, 39; Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14; and Austin Gee, 11.

He did not immediately provide details about the girl who survived.

Others in this tiny community described the family as quiet and well-liked.

Postmaster Jodie Duncan said she saw the children every morning when they came to the post office to get on the buses that took them to school.

"They were great kids," she said. "Austin was in the post office every morning in the lobby on the floor doing his homework. He'd say he's more awake in the morning."

She said Raymond Gee worked in construction and that Ruth Gee was a stay-at-home mother.

___

Associated Press writers John O'Connor in Beason and Don Babwin in Chicago contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090922/ap_on_re_us/us_family_slain_illinois

[samanthajane13]

Five Dead and Town Warned to Lock Its Doors
Police Say Raymond and Ruth Gee and Three Children Are Dead of Apparent Homicide
By SARAH NETTER
Sept. 22, 2009

Police issued a warning today in a small central Illinois town that whoever slaughtered a family of five was on the loose and extremely dangerous.

"I think people do need to lock their doors and take precautions," Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said today at a news conference according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. "Until we find this person, we consider them armed and dangerous."

Found dead in the family massacre were Raymond and Ruth Gee, approximately 46 and 39 years old, and their three children ages 11 to 16. Their youngest, 3-year-old Tabitha, survived the attack in the family's Beason, Ill., home and was taken to a hospital.

Police have called the Gee family murders a "brutal homicide."

Beason Postmaster Jodie Duncan, who knew the older children well, said no one in this tiny town of 300 knows what to think at this point.

"They're on edge," she said of the town's residents. "I think until the community gets more information as to what's going on, they're on edge." Rural mail carrier Harry David Edwards, who has delivered mail to the town's residents for more than 30 years, told ABCNews.com that he had heard it was one of the children's grandfathers who found the bodies Monday afternoon after not being able to reach the family.

"To take out kids and the whole family like that," he said, "I don't know."

Police said the bodies were found around 4:30 p.m. Monday after receiving a 911 call about a possible shooting at their 2150th Avenue home.

The children were identified as Justina Constant, 16, Dillon Constant, 14 and Austin Gee, 11.

"They were all good kids," Edwards said.

Murdered Children Made an Impression on Local Postmaster

Duncan said she got to know the children, and others in the town, as they congregated at the post office where the bus would transport them back and forth to schools in Lincoln, Ill.

Justina had a "heart of gold," Duncan said, calling the teen "the sweestest girl you'd ever want to meet."

Duncan said she'd recently begun dating a local boy about a month ago -- her first boyfriend -- and was "really, really excited" about the relationship and the token ring the boy had given her to show his affection.

Dillon, Duncan said, "was my buddy."

An enthusiastic wrestler who hoped to make it to the state championship once he got into high school, Dillon made a recent pact with Duncan to celebrate his eighth-grade graduation, she said.

She remembered Austin as a good little boy who preferred to do his homework last-minute at the post office in the mornings, something she'd tease him about.

As for the littlest, who has now become an orphan, "we're just praying," Duncan said.

The Sheriff's Office has said that the suspect or suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.

In a news released issued by Nichols' office, the department indicated it already had several leads that were being "vigorously pursued."

Edwards said police and other emergency crews have been canvassing not only the town, which encompasses about a six-block area, but the outlaying fields.

The bodies of the family have been taken to Peoria for autopsies to determine exact cause of death. The autopsies were scheduled for today.

Anyone with information about the murders is asked to call the Logan County Sheriff's Office at 217-732-4159.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.


http://abcnews.go.com/US/illinois-family-murdered-home-invasion/story?id=8640371

[samanthajane13]

Illinois town on edge after 5 family members slain
By JOHN O'CONNOR, Associated Press Writer John O'connor, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 41 mins ago

BEASON, Ill. – Residents of a tiny central Illinois farming town where three children and their parents were slain in their home anxiously awaited any word to settle their nerves after authorities warned them to lock their doors and be alert.

"Now I have my 9 mm loaded, cocked and ready to fire if someone breaks into my house," Dale Day, who lives a few blocks from the home in Beason where the family's bodies were discovered, said Tuesday.

Police cars blocked off the street from a nearby highway to just past the home-turned-crime scene. Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols said investigators were following leads but no arrests had been made or suspects identified.

Nichols called the killings the "brutal homicide of an entire family," but declined to provide details about how the family died. Autopsies were to be conducted Tuesday, but no results were immediately released.

The sheriff identified the victims and gave approximate ages: Raymond "Rick" Gee, 46; Ruth Gee, 39; Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14; and Austin Gee, 11. A 3-year-old girl survived the attack and was taken to a hospital in Peoria, he said.

The girl's grandmother identified her as the couple's daughter, Tabitha Gee.

Authorities discovered the bodies at the family's ranch-style house Monday afternoon after responding to a 911 call about possible shots fired at the address, Nichols said. He did not say why authorities did not notify the public until Tuesday, then advised them to secure their homes.

The few hundred residents of Beason, about 140 miles southwest of Chicago, were left to gather on their porches and think about their town in a way they never had.

"Not many people lock their doors here," said Brittney Fillmore, 14, who knew both Justina and Dillen from high school.

"Everybody always got along, neighbor helped neighbor," said 76-year-old Betty Poston, who moved to Beason at age 10.

Adding to the unease was the victims' reputation with townspeople and relatives as quiet and well-liked.

"They were ... very kind and never had a bad word to say about anybody," said Frances Constant, Ruth Gee's mother, who lives in nearby Lincoln.

Raymond Gee hustled for work in construction and as a handyman while his wife, a stay-at-home mom, helped out whenever she could, Constant said.

The couple faced their share of hardships, including having an 11-year-old daughter who suffered a brain injury so severe she has to live at a special facility in Peoria. Rick Gee's adult daughter also lives in Beason.

Dillen was "that ornery kid we all loved," said Angela Pitts, whose kids played with him and his siblings, and whose invitation Justina and Austin took to join a Bible club last summer before beginning to attend Park Meadows Baptist Church in Lincoln. Austin was a homebody but liked attending services with his sister.

About 70 people crowded into a small Methodist church Tuesday to remember the family. The Rev. Dayle Badman tried to offer comfort, particularly to the 30 or so children among them.

"Just think of this family as up in heaven having fun, doing the things that make them happy," Badman said. "They don't want you to be burdened by fear, they don't want you to be burdened by pain."

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Wills in Lincoln and Don Babwin in Chicago contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_re_us/us_family_slain_illinois

[samanthajane13]

Sheriff: Slain Ill. family members were not shot
By JOHN O'CONNOR, Associated Press Writer John O'connor, Associated Press Writer – 27 mins ago

LINCOLN, Ill. – A sheriff said Wednesday that autopsies on five members of a family found slain in their central Illinois home revealed that none of the victims had been shot, but he refused to reveal the cause of death.

Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols' comments raised further questions about the killings in the tiny farming town of Beason, particularly because he said a day earlier that deputies responded to the home of Raymond and Ruth Gee after a 911 call reporting possible shots fired.

Nichols would not say when authorities believe the couple and three of their children were killed, whether they have recovered any weapons or whether anything was taken from the house. Nor has he said if investigators have identified any suspects.

The county coroner whose office conducted the autopsies would not discuss any preliminary findings, saying the sheriff asked him not to because the information might jeopardize the investigation.

At a news conference Wednesday, Nichols said investigators continued to analyze evidence and asked the public for help in finding a gray pickup truck, possibly a Ford that was painted only in primer, that was spotted in the area late Sunday.

Area residents surmised that something was amiss in the house long before the 911 call that Nichols said came in around 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Jodie Duncan, the town's postmaster, said she saw the children every morning at her office, where they came to pick up the bus, until Monday, when they did not show up.

"I asked one of the kids, `Where are they? They said they're not here and they always beat us here," she said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a 3-year-old girl who survived the attack and was identified by family members as the Gees' youngest daughter, remained hospitalized in stable condition. Nichols said a deputy was assigned to the hospital, but that contrary to published reports, no other family members had been placed in protective custody.

He warned Beason residents on Tuesday to lock their doors at night while investigators tried to identify possible suspects in what he called the "brutal" deaths of the family.

He ratcheted down those comments Wednesday, saying only that residents "need to take normal precautions," such as locking doors and knowing where their children are at night. Nichols declined to say why he waited a day to issue his warning.

The head of the county's 911 center said the 911 call was made by a person he identifed only as an adult, who entered the house and saw bloody bodies "and very quickly got out of there."

Dan Fulscher, director of the Logan County Emergency Management Agency, said the scene the caller described was grisly enough that Fulscher immediately called his dispatcher to make sure the dispatcher had not been traumatized by what he'd heard.

Found dead inside the home along with their parents, 46-year-old Raymond "Rick" Gee and 39-year-old Ruth Gee, were Justina Constant, 16, Dillen Constant, 14; and Austin Gee, 11.

Friends of the family in Beason, a town of a few hundred people about 140 miles southwest of Chicago, said Wednesday that the Gees locked their front door but only to keep their 3-year-old daughter from leaving. And though they often left the back door unlocked so the child could get in and out of the yard, the Gees had a "very protective dog," the friends said.

"It doesn't matter if the back door was open or not because their dog was very protective of their family," said Stormee Whitney, a 17-year-old friend of Justina Constant.

That the sheriff and others were so tight-lipped about the slayings did not bother Whitney's mother, Marjorie Wright.

"They're not telling us anything ... so they can make sure that they catch these people that (did) this," Wright said.

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Wills in Lincoln and Don Babwin in Chicago contributed to this report.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_re_us/us_family_slain_illinois

[samanthajane13]

Sheriff seeks public's help in Ill. family slaying

LINCOLN, Ill. – Authorities are seeking the public's help in solving the slayings of five members of a central Illinois family, saying the suspect or suspects may be injured.

Police won't say if they are seeking one or more suspects in the deaths.

But Logan County Sheriff Steven Nichols said Saturday that a "violent struggle took place" and it's highly likely that the person or people responsible also are injured.

Nichols is asking the public to "take a look at everyone ... they may encounter" for recent injuries, especially to arms, the head and the upper body.

He says injuries could include cuts, bruises or loss of hair.

Authorities found the bodies of Ruth and Raymond Gee and three of their children Monday at their Beason home.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090926/ap_on_re_us/us_family_slain_illinois

[RaVeN71806]

this is so very sad:(..my heart is so broken for this family..I pray for the little ones recovery..:rose:

[SaraSidle]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/02/illinois.family.slain/index.html

well they have arrested one suspect. 30 yrs old. Have no idea on motive and if there are others.

[Wagsy]

I've been watching this case closely every day because that is where I originally come from - central IL. They have arrested the ex-husband of an older daughter who lives close by the home where the rest of the family was murdered. The ex and the older daughter just had another child together recently and are on good terms with each other, speaking to each other, etc. The police will not give out any details as to a motive. They also think there may have been an accomplice since it would take a lot to brutally bludgeon 5 people in one house and do it alone. There were no gun shots. The youngest little girl (3 years old) is in the hospital and in the PICU (Peds Intensive Care Unit) in Peoria where my sister works. She takes care of her but cannot comment to me about what happened to her, how she looks, if it has affected her or not. She did tell me she is getting better and is responding to family members that come to visit. That's all I know but it sure is something! I don't know why the sheriffs were scouring a soybean field adjacent to the home either - looking for weapons? Anyway, it's just so sad.

Also, the truck they were looking for was confiscated when the arrest of the 30 year old ex-husband was made.

For each of the Gee family killed: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:

[Wagsy]

this is so very sad:(..my heart is so broken for this family..I pray for the little ones recovery..:rose:

Raven - Tabitha, the 3-year-old, is upgraded from critical to stable but has a ways to go. I don't know if she'll have any physical or emotional scars from this. :shrug:

[One2Snoop]

I've been watching this case closely every day because that is where I originally come from - central IL. They have arrested the ex-husband of an older daughter who lives close by the home where the rest of the family was murdered. The ex and the older daughter just had another child together recently and are on good terms with each other, speaking to each other, etc. The police will not give out any details as to a motive. They also think there may have been an accomplice since it would take a lot to brutally bludgeon 5 people in one house and do it alone. There were no gun shots. The youngest little girl (3 years old) is in the hospital and in the PICU (Peds Intensive Care Unit) in Peoria where my sister works. She takes care of her but cannot comment to me about what happened to her, how she looks, if it has affected her or not. She did tell me she is getting better and is responding to family members that come to visit. That's all I know but it sure is something! I don't know why the sheriffs were scouring a soybean field adjacent to the home either - looking for weapons? Anyway, it's just so sad.

Also, the truck they were looking for was confiscated when the arrest of the 30 year old ex-husband was made.

For each of the Gee family killed: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:

That's something we didn't know before - so the guy is an ex-husband of an older daughter, but you say they were on good terms. Why would he kill 5 members of her family? :confused: Any idea's?

Glad to hear the little one is on the road to recovery - at 3 yrs old, I hope to god she doesn't remember any of it. :rose:

[samanthajane13]

2nd man charged in slaying of central Ill. family

LINCOLN, Ill. – An Illinois man was charged with first-degree murder Thursday for allegedly helping beat to death the family of his brother's ex-wife.

Jason Harris, 22, of Armington, was charged with five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols said. Identical charges were filed Oct. 2 against Harris' older brother, Christopher Harris, whose former father-in-law, Raymond "Rick" Gee, Gee's wife, Ruth, and three of their children were found bludgeoned to death in their home in the tiny central Illinois town of Beason on Sept. 21.

A 3-year-old daughter was found alive but seriously injured. She has been hospitalized since the attack.

Jason Harris' court-appointed attorney, Steven B. Skelton, said Thursday night that he didn't know anything about the specific accusations because he had not yet seen the charges or met with the defendant.

Skelton said Harris' first court appearance was scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday in Lincoln.

Harris was being held without bond. He already was in custody when the charges were filed Thursday. He his girlfriend, Jennifer C. Earnest, 24, and her mother, Sara A. Duncan, 43, of Sarasota, Fla., were arrested and charged Wednesday with obstruction of justice.

Harris' brother, Christopher Harris, 30, was divorced several years ago from Nicole Gee, whose father, his wife and three of their children were killed. Harris and Gee had reconciled, intended to marry again and recently had a second child together, his stepmom, Debbie Harris, told The Associated Press last week. She also said Harris was not capable of committing the crime and had no motive.

Police have said the five family members were killed by blunt force trauma preceded by a "violent struggle." Found dead along with the parents were 16-year-old Justina Constant, 14-year-old Dillen Constant and 11-year-old Austin Gee.

In an interview with the AP after his brother's arrest, Jason Harris said he was "100 percent" certain his brother didn't kill the Gee family. He said his brother was home most of the night the family may have been killed, and said his brother showed no injuries or blood splatters.

In a separate interview, Earnest told the AP that she had sold Christopher Harris a primer-gray pickup truck. Police announced after the killings that they were searching for a primer-gray truck that had been spotted near the crime scene.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091009/ap_on_re_us/us_family_slain_illinois

[One2Snoop]

Relatives seek answers as suspects appear in court
By Edith Brady-Lunny | eblunny@pantagraph.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:05 pm

LINCOLN -- Relatives of a slain Beason family will be in court Wednesday, looking for answers.

People close to Rick and Ruth Gee and their children, Justina Constant, Dillen Constant and Austin Gee, are hopeful that their questions will be answered at court appearances for Christopher J. Harris, 30, and Jason L. Harris, 22. The victims were found Sept. 21 in their Beason home by Rick Gee's stepfather.

"We need to know something -- even the motive--about why these two have been arrested," said Terry Miller, Dillen's stepmother. If information is not disclosed in court, Miller said the family is prepared to ask police for more answers.

Charges have also been filed against Sara Duncan and her daughter, Jennifer Earnest, because authorities said they gave false alibis to investigators for Chris Harris.

Miller said she and Dillen's father, Gerald Miller, have been given few details of the circumstances of the killings. Authorities told the family that the victims "put up one hell of a fight" before their deaths, said Miller, but no one has explained what links the Harris brothers to the deaths.

snip
http://pantagraph.com/news/local/article_5b7020b4-c34d-11de-b059-001cc4c002e0.html

[SaraSidle]

Relatives seek answers as suspects appear in court
By Edith Brady-Lunny | eblunny@pantagraph.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:05 pm

LINCOLN -- Relatives of a slain Beason family will be in court Wednesday, looking for answers.

People close to Rick and Ruth Gee and their children, Justina Constant, Dillen Constant and Austin Gee, are hopeful that their questions will be answered at court appearances for Christopher J. Harris, 30, and Jason L. Harris, 22. The victims were found Sept. 21 in their Beason home by Rick Gee's stepfather.

"We need to know something -- even the motive--about why these two have been arrested," said Terry Miller, Dillen's stepmother. If information is not disclosed in court, Miller said the family is prepared to ask police for more answers.

Charges have also been filed against Sara Duncan and her daughter, Jennifer Earnest, because authorities said they gave false alibis to investigators for Chris Harris.

Miller said she and Dillen's father, Gerald Miller, have been given few details of the circumstances of the killings. Authorities told the family that the victims "put up one hell of a fight" before their deaths, said Miller, but no one has explained what links the Harris brothers to the deaths.

snip
http://pantagraph.com/news/local/article_5b7020b4-c34d-11de-b059-001cc4c002e0.html

thank you. I do wonder on the motive.